Visitors: Lisa Scott, Lawrence Hutt, Unidentified Child; Unidentified Visitor
WASHINGTON STATE GENDER AND JUSTICE COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2000
Two Union Square, Seattle
ATTENDEES
Commission Members: Justice Barbara A. Madsen, Judge Marlin Appelwick, Judge Patricia H. Clark, Eileen Concannon, Helen Donigan, Esther Ervin, Thomas Fallquist, Kathy Franklin, Judge C. Kimi Kondo, Mary Pontarolo, Judge Ann Schindler
Guests: Sutapa Basu, Director, University of Washington Women's Center; Catalina Cantu, Gender and Justice 1st Vice President, State Board, Washington Women Lawyers; Jennifer Johnson, President, King County Chapter, Washington Women Lawyers; Trilby Dorn, King County Chapter, Washington Women Lawyers; Judith Ramseyer, Chair, King County Bar Association Gender Equality Committee; Regina LaBelle, Northwest Women's Law Center; Margaret Fisher, Administrative Office Of The Courts
Visitors: Lisa Scott, Lawrence Hutt, Unidentified child; Unidentified visitor.
Staff: Gloria Hemmen, Administrative Office Of The Courts
CALL TO ORDER
Justice Madsen called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. and introduced the guests. Justice Madsen reviewed the mission statement of the Commission.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Approval of Minutes It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the November 5, 1999, meeting. Motion carried.
Budget Report/Action The Commission reviewed a written report for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2000. The Commission has expended or encumbered $74,903 of its $112,895.00 allotment for fiscal year 2000. Gloria Hemmen was asked to clarify if funding carried through for the biennium or was restricted by fiscal year.
Action was taken on the following budget items:
It was moved and seconded to approve expenditure of up to $200 for the program at Seattle University Law School. Motion carried.
It was moved and seconded to approve expenditure of up to $200 for the program at the University of Washington Law School and costs for framing the domestic violence posters . Motion carried.
Annual Report
For the past three years, the annual report has been a two-page summary of Commission activities. Since this is the ten-year anniversary of Gender and Justice, it was proposed that this report be a more comprehensive report on the work of the Commission. It was agreed we have not publicized the accomplishments of the Commission.
It was agreed this annual report should be more comprehensive and include color photos. The estimated cost will be $5,000 - $8,000. In prospective years, we will follow a newsletter format. Estimated completion date for the report is June.
By-Laws Review
The By-Laws review was postponed until the next meeting.
Liaisons with Other Organizations - Invited Guests
Justice Madsen and Eileen Concannon introduced the guests. The reason for the invitation to these four groups was to learn more about their goals and mission, their programs and plans. In this way the Commission could avoid duplicating efforts and coordinate work on similar projects.
- University of Washington Women's Center
Sutapa Basu, Director of the, noted the goal of the Women's Center is to help women succeed in their academic goals. They offer classes, continuing education, support groups and a new program for girls of color from the inner city to encourage higher education. The University president has appointed a special committee and lectures on domestic violence and sexual abuse were presented to the campus and broader communities. She also sits on the Women Faculty Senate that deals with issues of harassment and gender equity.
Justice Madsen commented one way to educate on gender equality is to incorporate the issues throughout the curriculum. Ms. Basu said there have been collaborative events with the law school. She could see collaboration with the Commission on education programs.
- Washington Women Lawyers
Jennifer Johnson, President of the King County Chapter of (WWL), reported their goals are to further community outreach, increase membership involvement and membership activities. She described a number of their activities including: the annual judicial luncheon; roundtable and reception at the law schools; law school scholarship awards; brown bag luncheon programs; judicial evaluations; charitable outreach through the business clothing drive; holiday reception, membership in the Minority Bar Coalition, and providing information and links at their website The new Board has a retreat scheduled in January and would be happy to consider suggestions on how to collaborate.
One suggestion was for the Commission to provide speakers for the law school reception/round table. This could be an opportunity to increase awareness of the Commission's work.
Catalina Cantu, WWL State Board, Vice President for Gender Issues, reported the State Board is interested in doing more outreach to Eastern Washington, including setting up town meetings and coffee sessions. The Board supports a Survey/Glass Ceiling Study and review of the diverse changes in the profession of law and transitions including support for transitions from large to smaller firms.
- King County Bar Association Gender Equality Committee
Judy Ramseyer, Chair of the King County Bar Association Gender Equality Committee, commented the mission statements of the Commission and the Committee were virtually identical. The Equality and Fairness Committee has developed model policies on parental leave. They have offered a 1.5 credit CLE on fairness issues using the video "All in a Days Work" and will make available the 90 minute video and discussion materials.
The Committee would like to coordinate with other organizations to co-sponsor an empirical, Glass Ceiling Survey. Preliminary work has been done and University of Washington work/study program will assist to ensure the validity of the survey instrument. There will be an opportunity to collect anecdotal information. Two big issues are the estimated $15,000 in funding necessary and staffing required for the effort. The KCBA has donated $2,000.
The primary Committee effort this year is a forum entitled "Through the Glass Ceiling, Can Alice Get There from Here?" Karen Mathis, Chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession will be the main speaker. This program will lay a foundation for the future survey and hopefully develop interest among other groups. They welcome co-sponsors for the program.
Kathy Franklin indicated she has participated in discussions regarding this survey for over a year and encouraged the Commission's support of the project.
Justice Madsen noted students at the Gonzaga Law School presentation expressed interest in the survey project.
- Northwest Women's Law Center
Regina LaBelle reported the Northwest Women's Law Center, was founded in 1978 to advance legal rights for women. It provides broad-based legal advocacy throughout the Northwest, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The Law Center does not receive any federal funding. NWWLC programs include: the Self-Help Program which provides information and referral telephone service, self-help materials, and two family law clinics; Legal Education including workshops to community groups, low-cost seminars for professionals, and legal publications designed for non-attorneys, such as the 3rd edition of the very popular booklet, "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Legal Guide for Washington State," and Legislation and Litigation regarding reproductive rights, family law, health care and insurance, violence against women and child abuse. In 1998, 43 volunteer attorneys, paralegals, law students, and domestic violence advocates donated over 1900 hours responding to almost 6,000 calls for legal help. She noted men do also call NWWLC.
NWWLC's current priorities include establishing a tort on domestic violence under the federal law; a suit filed against the Eagle's Lodge in Washington and Oregon re membership for women; the relocation bill; and landlords refusal to rent to unmarried couples. The Law Center participated in the Governor's Domestic Violence Action Group and works with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. They are always looking for volunteers.
Justice Madsen requested information on the video, "Her Day in Court." The video was produced by Susan Starbuck for the Women's History Project and the NWWLC. Justice Madsen would like to have TVW show the video during Women's History Month. Ms. LaBelle said she would check on getting copies and approval to use the video.
STATUS OF CURRENT PROGRAMS/PROJECTS
Education Committee: When Bias Compounds: Women of Color in the Courts
Work is continuing on the pilot program When Bias Compounds: Insuring Equal Justice for Women of Color in the Courts. Commission members were encouraged to register for the program on 2/26/00. The Education Committee is meeting at noon today with the program facilitators.
Rural/Tribal Court DV Grant Continuation
Margaret Fisher reported we are in the 3rd year of the Violence Against Women grant program and have an opportunity to apply for continuation funds to replicate the workshops or do advanced training. Project to be completed under the grant include the workshops on April 25 preceding the Superior Court Judges' Associations Spring Conference; one on May 7 before the District and Municipal Court Judges' Association Spring Conference; and one still to be scheduled for the Tribal Court Judges Conference. The Domestic Violence Manual for Judges is being put on audiocassettes. When the master is created, it can be used to produce CDs. The new chapters for the DV manual will be distributed in the spring.
The Commission expressed support for the continuing grant and suggested the application include an option to provide the Rural/Tribal Court Workshops in areas that have held local domestic violence summits. Other suggestions were to prepare a laminated quick checklist for judicial use on the bench; provide information on domestic violence specialty courts; and get judges involved in the program planning.
Law School Presentations
Helen Donigan reported that the Gonzaga Law School presentation on November 8, 1999 was well received. Justice Madsen and Tom Fallquist participated in the presentation.
Judge Kondo and Justice Madsen are working with Professor Maggie Chon at Seattle University Law School to set up the January 19th program. Judge Appelwick reported that the presentation at the University of Washington will be scheduled in January.
Parenting Act Study Final Report
It was agreed that implementation of the report's recommendations will be referred to Judge Kennedy and the Domestic Relations Commission. However, status of this Commission's authority and funding is still unclear. Consensus was the Commission Chair may authorize reimbursement for travel expenses for the next DRC meeting in order to keep them involved with the project.
Clark County Domestic Violence Court
A report from Judge Ann Schindler was deferred to March meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT:
The next meeting is scheduled for March 3, 2000. The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.